Russell Billiu LONG

(1918-2003)

Senate Years of Service:

1948-1987

Party:

Democrat

LONG, Russell Billiu, (son
of Huey Pierce Long and Rose McConnell Long, cousin of Gillis W.,
and nephew of George S. Long), a Senator from Louisiana; born in
Shreveport, Caddo Parish, La., November 3, 1918; attended the
public schools of Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, La.;
graduated from Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge in 1941
and from its law school in 1942; admitted to the bar in 1942 and
commenced practice in Baton Rouge, La., in 1946; during the Second
World War served in the United States Naval Reserve from June 1942
until discharged as a lieutenant in December 1945; elected as a
Democrat to the United States Senate on November 2, 1948, to fill
the vacancy in the term ending January 3, 1951, caused by the death
of John H. Overton and took his seat December 31, 1948; reelected
in 1950, 1956, 1962, 1968, 1974, and 1980 and served from December
31, 1948, to January 3, 1987; did not seek reelection in 1986;
Democratic whip 1965-1969; chairman, Committee on Finance
(Eighty-ninth through Ninety-sixth Congresses), co-chairman, Joint
Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation (Eighty-ninth Congress),
chairman, Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation (Ninetieth
through Ninety-fourth Congresses), Joint Committee on Taxation
(Ninety-fifth and Ninety-sixth Congresses); practiced law in
Washington, D.C., and Baton Rouge, La.; was a resident of
Washington, D.C., at the time of his death on May 9, 2003;
interment in Roselawn Memorial Park in Baton Rouge.